Hatch cover



H. .1. MEEK 2,940,410

HATCH COVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 14, 1960 Filed March l26, 1958 A/ 8 o-.\ S. E l/ mw ON n: @n N v un On o: mm Y m.. N @E I I I I I I I I I FIG.3

June 14, 1960 Filed March 26, 1958 H. J. MEEK HATCH COVER 5 Sheeis-Sheet 2 IIB 1NVENTOR Harold J. Meek @a mm2/f ATTORNEY H. J. MEEK HATCH COVER June 14, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 26, 1958 INVENTOR Harold J. Meek rfllll.. Illlllllllllll Nw ww l mili.-

United States Patent C) HATCH COVER Harold I. Meek, Staten Island, N.Y., assigner to Jaroco Engineering Co., Hoboken, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Mar. 26, 1958, Ser. No. 724,079

13 Claims. (Ci. 114-202) 'Ihe present invention relates to a multi-sectioned steel cover for ships hatches and more particularly to a multisectioned hatch cover adapted to be moved in unison to one end of the hatch and stored in horizontal position clear of the hatch opening.

Originally `a ships cargo hatch was covered by laying planks across the opening and lashing a tarpaulin over the planks to make the cover watertight. On a large hatch, considerable time and labor may be required to remove and replace this type of cover. Because of the high cost of maintaining fast schedules, various devices have been proposed to cut down on the time required for opening and closing such hatch openings.

Several types of folding covers have been proposed and are now in use, generally consisting of hinged sections hinged to the hatch coaming. These covers generally fold vertically at the side of the hatch yand are opened and closed with the aid of the ships hoisting gear. Although these covers save a considerable amount of time, there `are many problems connected with their usage. Most important, the hatch cover when open, occupies a large area of deck space and generally is in the way when the hatches are being loaded with cargo.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hatch cover for a ship that stores in horizontal position at one end of the hatch opening below the height of the coaming.

Another `object of the present invention is to provide an improved multi-sectioned hatch cover that can be quickly moved from a closed watertight position over the hatch opening to an open position at one end of the hatch clear of the hatch opening without the aid of the ships hoisting gear.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a hydraulically actuated multi-sectioned hatch cover that can be quickly moved from a closed position covering the hatch opening to an open horizontal position at one end of the hatch clear of the hatch opening.

Another object of this invention is to provide an interconnected multi-sectioned hatch cover employing very simple actuating means and requiring a stowage space of particularly small dimensions.

Fig. l shows diagrammatically in an elevational view partly in section, a ships hatchway equipped with the hatch-cover arrangement of the present invention, the sections Abeing shown in their closed position;

Fig. 2 is `a similar view showing the end section in process of moving to the stowed position;

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the hatch-cover arrangement in the stowed position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1; y

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a detail view showing a corner of one of the hatch cover sections;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of Fig. 3; and

"ice

2 i Fig. 8 is a plan view with the cover in the-stowedv condition.

Referring to the drawings, the coaming 10 is shown to be lupstanding from the'deck 12. Located inwardly of the coaming 10 within the hatch opening on each side of the hatch is a track 14 on which the wheels of the hatch cover to be described are adapted to travel. Atv

one end of the hatch opening is located a hatch cover storage compartment 16 which is located on the deck 121 rand is enclosed by three side walls 18 and a roof 20.4 which is located at approximately the same height as the,

upper end of the coaming 10. Between the roof 20 of' the storage compartment 16 andthe end coaming wall 211v is an opening 22 extending across the width of the hatchA and large enough for each section of the hatch cover tof pass through in traveling from the coaming into the storage compartment when the hatch is being uncovered.

A hatch cover including a plurality of sections 24, 26-r 28 and 30 are shown in the closed position in Fig. 1 covering the hatch opening. Section 24 is linked to a section 26 by a link bar 32 which is attached at one end to a slidable gudgeon 34 which is fitted in a slot 36 in the end plates of section 24. The slot 36 extends along a portion of the length `of section 24 toward the forward end thereof. The other end of link bar 32 is attached to a slidable gudgeon 3S which is fitted in slot 40 lin the end plates of section` 26. The slot 40 extends along a portion of the length of section 26 towardthe rear end thereof. In referring to the rear end of a section, that end is referred to which is nearest to the storage compartment 16 when the hatch cover is closed.

Section 26 is linked to section 28 vby a link-bar 42 which is attached at one end to a slidable gudgeon 44 which is fitted 'in va slot y46 in the end plates `of section 26. The slot extends along a portion of the length of section 26 toward the forward end thereof. The other end'of link bar 42 is attached to slidable gudgeon 48 fitted in slot S0 in the end plates of section 28.` Slot 50 extends along a portion of the length of section 28 toward the rear end thereof.

Section 28 is likewise linked to section 30 by a linkbar *52 which is attached at one end to a slidable gudgeon 54 which is fitted ina slot 56 in the end plates of section 28. The slot extends along a portion of the length of.

section 28 toward the forward end thereof. The other end of linkebar 52 is attached to slidable gudg'eon 58 fitted in slot in the end plates of section 30. Slot 60 extends along a portion of the length of section 30 to` ward the rear thereof.

Thus it can be seen that each section is linked to each adjacent sect-ion from the forward part of the forwardv section to the rear part of the rear section. The sections: 24 and 30 thus require only one slot therein since these sections are each only :attached toone adjacent section` 'Ihe sections 26 and 28, however, require two slots therein since these sections are each yattached to two adjacent sections, one located forwardly thereof and the other rearwardly thereof.

Section 24 is provided with a pair of T slots 62 extending the length thereof in its upper surface. The slots 62 are adapted to engage a pair of T bars 64, which, as shown in Fig. 7, are attached to the lower surface of the roof 20 of the storage compartment. The forward end 65 of the T bars 64 are wedge shaped for a purpose to be described hereafter. Thusl when the section 24 is rcmoved from the hatch opening, T bars 64 will engage the T slots 62 of the cover section 24 so that the cover section 24 will stow in a horizontal position parallel to the roof 20. A stop member 66 is located at the'rear end` of'each T bar 64 to limit the travelV of section 24 to the extent shown in Fig.`3.

'Ihe forward end of cover section 24 is attached by a l Yremaining'sections*asbest showninFig` l.

pair `of extension 68t'o a pair of endless link-belt drag chains-70-whichl passV over sprocket wheels- 72 at the for-`l wardrend of the hatch andvsprocket wheels 74 at the rear V'aya/.tonto jacent'toV the tracks 14 on each side of the hathffTheA Y Cover section 241is7 provided `witlra pair of wheels` 62Y near its fbrwardfendandTa-pair offwheels- 84 nearjts rear ende. "lfhevwheels are supportedat each side of the cover Y locatedlinwardly of! the endplatesoff the cover sectionsl Y for engagement W-iththe track. On the rear' surfaceof. f 1` section 24: lis a gasket member 86V extending. -acrossthe entire widthof the section near theupper surface there-' of. This: gasket member 86 is adapted to engage. the

'76' to effect rotation of the sprocket wheels 72Y and 74 in the proper direction; Rotation vof the sprocket wheels results in movement of the endless chains 70, and through extension bars 68', the lmovement of the cover sections. The cover sections travel toward the storage compartment 16 with their wheels traveling along the track 174. When the rear Wheels 106 ofrsection reach the carnsurface 1,14, continued movement/ofthe section 30 causes the wheels 106 to drop .ol ofthe-track .14 and the bottom of the section.engages'therollers 1.18.Y ,The section continues;

.totravel on the rollers 1`1S'rand its front wheels 100funtil the upper surface of the section 3,0 engages the wedgeshaped end 65` of theT bars 64. .The section30 is'thus I tipped downwardly by thewedge-shaped T ba-rs about front'surface of adjoining sectionf26fwhen thecovers'are.V Y

closed asfshownfin Fig;Y lto effect'a sealacross the width-of the joint between adjacentcover sections; Y Cover section 26 is likewise provided wltha pair ofi Ywheels-8SM its forwardend, a. pair of wheels 90 at its rear end, and a gasketv member. 92 extending acrossiithe. entireV width of. the section near the upper end'rof the end plate thereof. Cversection 28Jis also providedwith: twopairs of wheels 94and 96 and a rear gasket member.

V.98, all similarly located. Cover section 30` is provided witha forward pair of'y wheels lsuspendedinthe same manner as the remaining wheels by a pair of'depending` members 102:;depending'from'the upper surface of. the-` Y i' `section between whi'chlm'embers vthe wheelis mounted on f isso-jarranged; that the wheels 106 are locatedjin a lower' plane.y than s the' wheels 100 i and; the wheels; onrthe other sections, so'thatY the'section 30`when its :wheels arerestf Y ingon the track 14 .is atan acute Aanglewithrespect to the` tttedjn azgroove 1212 at the upper end ofrthehatch between` eachadjacent,V hatch cover. When ini the fclosed, position therhatch'cover section 30 completely; encloses the Vopening' 22 between the Astorage compartment 16- and the end coaming wall 21. Y I

The horizontal :tracks 14V extend the entirer length' of Y thehatch;opening; and Tat-thee. inner eind -ofthehatch where the i covers are stowed,l beginning .n at the opening; 22,-the tracksieach are curv'edrdownwardly'in the-formi ofacamsurface 114.. Thecam surfaces 1-14ori-whiclr` the wheels/traveljare adapted fto. guidefthe individualv coverjsectionsr'from thefhorizontal position olrrtheetrack 1410 thestowed-position asshowninFig. 5.V The earn surface 114 begins'to curve downwardly in a sharp nearly;

' Y V9,0"v curveat a'point directly over the sprocket wheel74.

Extending across. the opening22Y immediately 'over thee sprocketrwheel74 is-a shaftY 116 carrying'a pluralityof rotatablerollers 118 thereonproperly spaced .across the` widthfof .the hatch opening. These rollers are usedto support theV hatch-sections. as they are pivoted` into the openinggl-after their rear wheels leavee-theatrack `14.` The operationV of; the apparatus-will, now bedescribed.

Y Y Starting -withthe hatch cover sections in the closed and sealedfpositionshowngin Fig. 1,"theiiniiatablegaskets110 arerl-st deilatedato;Y break thefseallbetween the coaming.

a andithes cover sections. The' control valve Y80- isV next f manipulated to permit flow of hydraulic fluid to the motorI the rollers 118 until the rear wheels 106 drop into engagement with the cam surface 114, all as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. lmarked A: B', C and D untilrthe section reaches the fully stowed horizontal position E as shown in Fig. 3`. l Y

As the forwardy endY of theV cover"y sectionflal) pivots upwardly andtravels downwardly on the rollerslIS', the link bars 52 control the movement of section 30 preventing a sudden drop of the section. The section 30 thus can be seen to travel vthrough the opening 22 between the roof 20 of theY storage compartment 1'6 and the endcoaming wall. When in its closed positionfthe section 30 acts to seal'ot` the opening 22. When' the ina'table gasket isV deated, however, and-the section moves a slight amount, the wheels 106 drop almost verticallyVY from the track 14. thusloweringrthe rear end ofthe section 30 and Vpermitting-itV to pass through the opening 22;

Successive 1 cover-sections 28 and 26 pivot similarly guided.byrthewedge-Shaped' Tlbars and pass through thev opening'` 22v'into the storage? compartment 16. "The 'link'v barsbetweenthe; sections arel'freeto floatiin the slots-andY actuto control the descent of vfthe?.'s'ections. The;V rear wheels ofieach successive coverride'alon'g Ithe topsurface' of the-next lowersectionfinto avertically stacked arrangement of horizontally eitending'sections.

. 40 Y Extending about -theperipheryz of the upper'po'rtionofV the coaming'is an in'atable sealing vgasket 110 whichjis section travels `horizontally through- Vtheopening 22 into The ylastsection 2`4upo'n reachingYK the opening 22"will also come into. contact` withV the wedg'eshaped "ends of the V-T'bars, however, duetotheTslotsGZ in itsupper4 surface; Vthe T bars will enter the T'slots as the Ycover the storage compartment. When the stop memberss are engaged' bythesection 24; as shown'inV Figi- 3. the section 24* is completely remvedlfrom the Vcoaming,` and is storediin. a horizontally suspended position with` .the extension; barsV 678 thereonllo'cated directly over the so sprocket wheel 742' Y Y Y o It can ,thus be seen that in the fully-stowed position,`

Y Y shown inI Fig'. 3, the hatch I cover sections arer completely removed: from the hatch opening and aresrtowed in a stacked horizontal arrangement'in -thegstorage compart-V ment 16 onlth'e-decklbelowlthe'height of thesupjper end ofv thecoaming. Theroof'Z' ofthefstorage compartment is fiat andlr may be "utilized wh'endesired both vwhen the cover is open or closed;

versed so that the sprocketfwheels and endless Vchains move inthe' opposite directiom thuisvv towing the` covers fromthe storagev compartment-"onto the coaning. YEachY successivef cover 26;" 2'8/and`30travels alongfthe canr surface 114V andr pivots ontothe coaming ina manner just the reverse fetlie'openingoperation previously described. Y Y Y f In' Vthe closing operation, the bars `actV to jpull the successive sections up thecammed surface 114 and-along Y. -th'e'rollersV 1189untill'the'forwardv wheels ofthe section y the end-of its-trave'l-, the last movementlwillfbe'. approximately vertically as the rear wheels reach the trackjf14;l and thus the-sec-tion enclose's'lthe'opening22fand-'is'in position for being sealed. -When th'e-four Sections arelocated "over-4 th'ehatch opening,`the-`inatable gasketv V110 any is inated to eiect the peripheral and lateral sealing of the hatch cover to the coaming.

-It should be noted that the motor 76 can be an electric motor if desired, and a suitable control circuit would be used.` v

When the hatch cover sections are properly stowed as shown in Fig. 3, the section 30 is lowermost with its rear wheels 106 resting on thel deck against a chock member 120. The forward wheels 100 are on the slightly raised cam surface 114 so that the section is in' horizontal position. The section 28 is located over the section 3() with its rearmost wheels 96 resting on the upper surface of the section 39. Similarly section 26 is located over the section 28 with its rear wheels 90 resting on the upper surface of the section 28. The section 24 is located over the section 26 and is suspended by the T bars 64.

This method of storage results in a storage compartment of particularly small dimensions.

The link bars between adjacent cover sections are free to slide and pivot in the slots provided in the cover sections through their slidable gudgeons, thus permitting the pivotal movement of the adjacent actions.

It will beobvious to those skilled inthe art that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and therefore the invention is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and Idescribed in the specication, but only as indicated in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A ships hatch and cover construction for the deck of a ship provided with a stowage space at one end of said hatch, comprising in combination a hatch coaming having longitudinal and lateral sides upstanding from the ships deck, a track extending along each of the opposite longitudinal sides of the coaming, a cammed track portion attached to said track and located at the one end of the coaming, said cammed track portion being curved downwardly from said track, a plurality of `cover sections adapted to assume adjacent positions covering the entire hatch opening, a plurality of wheels on the sides of said cover sections adapted to travel on said tracks and cammed track portions, rigid link bars for pivotally and slidably interconnecting each two adjacent sections and transmitting operating thrusts, horizontally extending slots in the side walls of said cover sections, means connecting each of said link bars at one of its ends -to a slot in one of said sections, means connecting the other end of the link bars to a slot in the adjacent section, said means being pivotally and slidably mounted in said slots, and an actuating means connected to said section most remote from said stowage space adapted to move all said sections from the closed position on the coaming to the stowed position at one end of the hatch coaming.

2. A ships hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim ll wherein means are provided for storing said hatch cover sections in substantially horizontal position at one end of the hatch coaming, in stacked relationship, the upper surface of the uppermost said section being at substantially the same height as said coaming.

3. A ships hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim l wherein an enclosed storage compartment is located at one end of said hatch coaming, and means for storing said hatch cover sections in said storage compartment in substantially horizontal position in stacked relationship.

4. A ships hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim 3, wherein means are provided for suspending said uppermost section from lthe roof of said storage compartment.

5. A ships hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim l wherein said actuating means comprises a pair of sprocket wheels, an endless chain passing over said sprocket wheels, and a motor adapted to rotate said sprocket wheels to cause movement of said chain which 6 is connected to said section most remote from said storage space.

6. A ships hatch andV cover construction in accordance with claim -1 wherein a sealing gasket is mounted on the trailing edge of said sections between adjacent sections, and an intable gasket is mounted on said coamingV adjacent to the upper endthereof between said cover sections and said coaming extending around the entire'peripherythereof, whereby when the gasket is in- Ilated said covcrsections are compressed together against said sealing gaskets and are sealed around their periphery to said coaming. v

7. A ships -hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim 6 wherein said wheels are-spaced laterally inwardly from the side walls of said cover sections.

8. A ships hatch and cover construction for the deck of a ship comprising a hatch coaming having longitudinal and lateral sides upstanding from the ships deck, a track extending along each of the opposite longitudinal sides of the coaming, a cammed track portion attached to said track and located at the one end of the coaming, said cammed track portion being curved downwardly from said track, at least two cover sections ladapted to assume adjacent positions covering the entire hatch opening, a plurality of wheels on the sides of said cover sections adapted to travel on -said tracks and said cammed track portions, a rigid link bar for pivotally and slidably interconnecting each two adjacent sections, horizontal slots in the side walls of said cover sections, means for slidably and pivotally connecting said link bar at each end to a slot in an adjacent cover section, the slot in said section nearest one end of said coaming extending along a portion of the length of said section nearest the one end of said coaming, and the slot in said section nearest the' other end of said coaming extending along a portion of the length of said section nearest the other end of said coaming, and actuating means connected to said sec'- tion nearest the other end of said coaming adapted to move all said sections from the closed position on said coaming to the stowed position at one end of said coaming.

9. A ships hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim 8 wherein -a plurality of rotatable rollers are located at the junction of said track and said cammed track portion whereby as each said section reaches said cammed track portion and the rear wheels move downward-ly thereon, said section is engaged by said rollers about which said section pivots into stowed position.

10. A ships -hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim 8 wherein wedge-shaped bars are provided -at one end of the coaming spaced from the end coaming wall above said cammed ltrack portion and at the same height as said sections whereby as each said section moves from the closed position, the upper end of the section engages the wedge bars and is forced downwardly to etect the pivoting movement.

1l. A ships hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim 9 wherein wedge-shaped bars are provided at the storage end of the coaming spaced longitudinally from said rollers and at the same height as said section whereby as the first said section moves from the closed position the upper end of the Section engages the wedge bars and is -forced downwardly pivoting about said rollers.

l2. A ships hatch and cover construction in accordance with claim 11 wherein T-slots 4are provided in the upper surface of said section furthest from the storage end of the hatch, and said wedge-shaped bars being T- shaped in cross section whereby when said T-slots contacts said T-shaped wedge bar, the section will travel along said T-bar and be vsuspended in horizontal position removed from said coaming and over said other sections which have previously been pivoted downwardly into stowed position.

13. A ships hatch and cover construction for the degli Qi a/Ship comprising a hats!! warning hevingilengi tudinal and lateral Walls upstanding from theships deck,-

Vthe,oauning- @atei-al1 wall Lat.- one end {of the hafch :being Y high@ than 'ther opposite' lateral-'walk an- SHQlOSmhQh rcover, said T-Slrots 'and- Ys at'id- 'II-bars v*'tiengfinv'.vziignmentVV so that when engagedv they act-to suspendfsgid hatch! cover, sectiongin {horizonte} position :32132151c telyj` removed from'said hatchv coaming, means A,Within 'saidhatch for supporting said hatch coveran inatable gasket mounted on said coaming yadjacent the upper endon'theinner side Y thereof extending around the entire periphery thereof,

whereby a continuous seal-'may be obtained'ybetweensaid cover and sid coaming by ntion ofsaid gasket, andY an opening/1in said lateral; coaming wa1l` at ,one eridv ofY 

